1. Prerequisites *

At the start of this course the student should have acquired the following competences:

competences corresponding the final attainment level of secondary school

an active knowledge of

Dutch

a passive knowledge of

French

English

specific prerequisites for this course

No specific prerequisites.

2. Learning outcomes *

Students have a survey knowledge of contemporary history from a global perspective and they have an insight into the processes that shape our current world. They are able to reflect critically on the tension between globalisation and fragmentation in our world and to problematise and discuss their knowledge. They are acquainted with the state of research within the domain of contemporary history.

The bachelor has a basic knowledge of world history in general and of the Western cultural tradition from Antiquity to our days, and of the philosophical insights in that tradition in particular.

The bachelor has ready knowledge of historical facts and insights with a well-developed spatial, chronological and thematic frame of reference and have advances knowledge of a period and a domain (social and economic, cultural or political history).

The bachelor shows continuous scientific curiosity for historical knowledge and have the skills to efficiently expand their knowledge of and insight in historical phenomena.

The bachelor has the knowledge, skills and attitude to think critically and historically contextualising.

The bachelor can understand and follow scientific debates in international specialized literature (in Dutch, English and French).

The bachelor has a strongly developed critical attitude towards transmitted knowledge, opinions, methods, theories, models and concepts, historical aspect of language and towards its different sources and information carriers.

The bachelor is able to keep his/her expertise up-to-date in a process of lifelong learning.

The bachelor has a basic knowledge and elementary insights in the broad domain of behavioural and social sciences, such as social sciences, economics, philosophy and social geography and can integrate insights from behavioural and cultural sciences in historical research.

The bachelor has an open mind, an inquisitive attitude and is alert for recent developments in his/her own field of study, in the behavioural and social sciences and in society in general.

The bachelor has a great general interest in contemporary society and has historical insight into different fundamental developments and trends in a number of important sectors of contemporary social and cultural life.

The bachelor can participate in the broad social debate from a historical perspective, based on his/her knowledge and skills.

The bachelor is able to flexibly apply historical knowledge and historical skills to situations outside the academic historical scene.

The bachelor has acquired a subtle and respectful attitude towards the social and philosophical pluralism of modern society.

3. Course contents *

Course

This course gives a broad introduction to the history of the contemporary world since 1945. Important developments are discussed with respect to their global implications. The course has four main parts: 1) ecology, 2) demography and energy, 3) economics and society, 3) international politics.
The connecting thread in this survey is the tension between global integration and local fragmentation. Global commerce, multinationals that are not controlled by a particular nation-state, the coca-colonisation of popular cultures, the internet. All these phenomena point to global integration. Yet counterarguments are: the proliferation of states since 1945 due to decolonisation and the implosion of the Soviet Union, religious and racial antagonisms and the growing gap between the haves and the have-nots.

Tutorials

Screenings of documentaries + reader. The students receive a number of questions they have to answer while watching each documentary and after having read some additional texts. The examination will contain an essay question on this subject.